Tom Hateley however isn't worried. His father Mark scored 115 times in 222 games for Rangers, and he also made a name for himself at AC Milan and Monaco.

Grandad Tony netted 222 goals during his prolific time in England, and Hateley Jnr is now continuing the family dynasty abroad.

After taking in spells at Tranmere and Motherwell, where he got a taste of playing European football, Tom decided to spread his wings and test himself in the Polish league last year.

Though few Brits have taken the plunge and plied their trade in a foreign league, Tom has settled in well at Slask Wroclaw.

Hateley admits that his father's adventures in Europe inspired him to make the switch.

"It's different. I have always wanted to go to Europe as my dad played abroad when I was growing up," Hateley told Star Sport.

ITALIAN JOB: Tom's father, Mark during his spell at AC Milan [GETTY]

“If I can model my game on Pirlo, I must be doing something right”

Tom Hateley

"It's something I always wanted to do. If you asked me a few years ago if it would have been Poland, I would probably have said no.

"Moving abroad is a big change and it takes you out of your comfort zone."

Although adopting new customs has been a challenge, Hateley has been surprised by the dressing room culture.

He said: "I don't understand a lot of it! It's a problem at the moment.

"Everyone speaks English if it's one-to-one, but if there's 20 lads, they won't speak English.

"There's five or six of us that aren't from Poland and we have good banter - the usual dressing room stuff you get flying around in England.

"It makes it easier there's other lads there who aren't from Poland."

Hateley concedes that Polish and English football throws up contrasting styles, and he claims he is still getting to grips with 'tiki taka', a brand of attacking football made famous by Barcelona.

TIKI TAKA: Tom Hateley's new side have adopted Barcelona's style of football [GETTY]

He continues: "It's a completely different style of football than I've been used to playing in England and Scotland.

"It's a lot more tiki taka. There's more one touch two touch passing over here.

"The best thing for me to develop as a footballer is if I could combine a stereotypical English midfielder with the tiki taka of European football, then it should stand me in good stead and that was the whole thinking behind it. I'm really enjoying my time here at the moment."

Hateley prides himself on being a holding midfielder, and jovially admits he is trying to model his game on Juventus icon Andrea Pirlo.

He said: "Yeah if I can be like Pirlo on the ball, playing in that role, then that would be alright.

"The European game is not as physical as what I played in England.

"You can't go flying around into tackles. It's a lot more about first touch.

"If I can model my game on Pirlo, I must be doing something right!"

INFLUENCE: Tom Hateley says he models his game on Andrea Pirlo (pictured) [GETTY]

Slask, who are currently in the midst of a winter break, are flying high at the moment, sitting in second spot in the Polish league, just three behind table toppers Legia Warsaw.

Qualifying for the Champions League remains a realistic target, but Hateley is refusing to get carried away.

"I'm taking it one game at a time. Every footballer wants to play at the highest level they can," he said.

"We are second in the league and that's great.

"If we can keep it up, it's something I would love to go on and achieve."

Hateley is grateful for his experience, and urges any young player to play abroad if they get the chance to do so.

"I would recommend going and educating yourself in a more European style of football," he added.

"Modern day football is going that way. It's more about possession, you see that in Champions League football where there is more emphasis on the technical side of the game."